“When writing, you're using the language a lot more intentionally than when you’re speaking.” - Judith Meyer Have you ever been put off learning a new language because it uses a different writing system to your first language? If so, you’re not alone. Judith Meyer says learning to write in a new language can seem daunting - especially if it uses a different script. But she claims writing is the key to improving your spoken language and finding more joy in conversations with native speakers. Judith, known as the German Polyglot, is the inventor of the Script Hacking method, a system which makes learning different writing systems easy. Judith speaks 14 languages and is behind both Learnlangs.com and The Polyglot Gathering.“When writing, you're using the language a lot more intentionally than when you’re speaking.” - Judith Meyer Have you ever been put off learning a new language because it uses a different writing system to your first language? If so, you’re not alone. Judith Meyer says learning to write in a new language can seem daunting - especially if it uses a different script. But she claims writing is the key to improving your spoken language and finding more joy in conversations with native speakers. Judith, known as the German Polyglot, is the inventor of the Script Hacking method, a system which makes learning different writing systems easy. Judith speaks 14 languages and is behind both Learnlangs.com and The Polyglot Gathering. This series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal. In this episode you will learn:Why writing is the key to better pronunciationThe first steps of putting pen to paperHow “romanticising” your writing practise can helpThe challenges of writing and how to overcome them Get 20% off Judith’s Script Hacking books at https://teachyourself.com/discount/JMPOD20?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fauthor-judith-meyer-pid-190309. Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com Find out more about Judith’s work here. Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePodWebsite: thelanguagepodcast.com/ The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The very fact that you can do (read) anywhere, without barriers, makes it an incredibly important tool.” - Olly Richards  For many, reading is the least of their worries when it comes to learning a new language but Olly Richards, inventor of the StoryLearning method, says it’s not something to be overlooked.  Olly’s method teaches reading skills through stories - using the same natural learning process children use to learn their native language. The polyglot, who speaks 8 languages, calls reading the “brain-friendly” way to learn a new language and claims it can speed up your overall learning.  This series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal. In this episode you will learn:The biggest mistake people make when they start reading in a new language How to choose the correct reading materialWhy you don’t need to understand every word on the page  Get 20% off Olly’s Short Stories books and audiobooks at https://teachyourself.com/discount/ORPOD20?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fauthor-olly-richards-pid-193257. Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com Find out more about Olly’s StoryLearning Method here.  Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePodWebsite: thelanguagepodcast.com/ The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Once you embody it, once you’re producing it in song, it really improves pronunciation, confidence, memory.” - Desta Haile Listening to music isn’t just an enjoyable way of learning a new language, it can also teach you so much about culture, about politics and about the words people are really using.  Desta runs the Languages Through Music programme, bringing two decades of experience to help her students make music an effective and intentional part of their learning. And in this episode, she shares her top tips. This brand-new series of The Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal. In this episode you will learn:How music’s ability to tap into our emotions aids language learningWhat types of songs you should be picking to integrate music into your journeyStories of how music deepens human connectionWhat you should be listening out for and focusing on during the listening process Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com.  Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com  The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 “It’s more reliable to feel what you’re saying, than to hear it” - Anneli Haake Getting pronunciation right when you’re learning a new language is a challenge people often find most terrifying. If you’re struggling to ‘listen and repeat’, Anneli Haake has a much more effective method for you to try. Anneli Haake is a Swedish Language teacher, author, and founder of Swedish Made Easy. After scanning her vocal tract in an MRI machine, Anneli developed a unique approach to teaching pronunciation, focusing on vocal anatomy - how our mouths and tongues move when we say certain words.  This brand-new series of The Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal. In this episode you will learn:The importance of pronunciation and why it’s not the same as ‘accent’How to focus on your own vocal anatomy to improve your pronunciationWhy you should learn reductions and contractions as soon as possibleWhat to do if you can’t make a certain sound Get 20% off Anneli’s book The Language Teacher Rebel, and her Language Teacher Rebel Toolkit,  with the code AHPOD20. Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com.  Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod Website:  https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com   The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You’re going to feel like an idiot. You’re going to feel self-conscious. But you’re going to learn a lot quicker” -Benny Lewis Afraid of having conversations in a new language? Unsure how to get started? Benny Lewis will get you chatting with the locals in no time. Benny is known as the Irish Polyglot and speaks more than ten languages. He runs the language learning blog fluentin3months and is the author of the Teach Yourself series Language Hacking. His method is all about learning by doing, embracing your mistakes and having conversations in your new language as fast as possible. This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal. In this episode you will learn:How to overcome the fear of getting things wrong so you can start building connections in months, not years.Why moving to a country to learn a language is NOT the best advice.How to avoid defaulting to your mother tongue during the learning process.The exact methodology Benny uses to get people to conversational level in just 90 days. Get 20% off Benny’s Language Hacking series with the code BLPOD20. Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on: If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com   The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Life is just so much more fun when you speak a bunch of languages, is it not?” - Jo Franco Where should you start if you want to learn a new language? To inspire the beginning of your journey, we bring you social media sensation Jo Franco. Jo is a Netflix travel host, filmmaker, writer and founder of JoClub, a global online journaling community. She has been documenting her language learning process and travels on social media for several years. Jo currently speaks six languages, and uses multilingualism as a way to connect to the world to tell authentic stories about humanity. This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.In this episode you will learn:About Jo’s personal journey through language learning, and what it has brought to her life and travels.About her own process for language learning, how it’s developed and how you can put it into practice for yourself.What resources you should start your journey with.How to find the motivation to keep going, even when it gets tough.Check out Jo’s language learning planner and journal ‘Fluentish’: www.teachyourself.com/products/fluentish . Use code JOPOD20 for 20% off! Find out more about Teach Yourself here:www.teachyourself.com Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com  The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal."Life is just so much more fun when you speak a bunch of languages, is it not?” - Jo FrancoFind out more about Teach Yourself at www.teachyourself.com. Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join renowned writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster, David Crystal, as he delves into the ever-evolving nature of English and explores the intriguing question of linguistic ownership. In this episode, Crystal explores the potential future of English as a global lingua franca, the inevitability of language change and the necessity for a global or international standard of English. “Everybody owns English now. If you have taken the trouble to learn it, and if you are in a country where it has a significant presence, then you have rights in it.”From South African English to Singaporean English, many varieties of English exist. But how are these variations shaping the evolution of the language? And as technology continues to bring us all closer together, will we eventually see all of these varieties converge?David Crystal is a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster, who has written over 100 books on the English language. In this episode he explores the question of ownership - can any one country lay claim to the language anymore? He discusses whether it’s likely English will one day lose its status as a global lingua franca. And he explains the inevitability of language change, and why we should embrace it.Check out David’s latest book Everyday Shakespeare, Lines for Life. Find out more about our sponsor, Chambers here and sign up to their newsletter. Chambers is the number 1 brand for word lovers, and publishers of Everyday Shakespeare.Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePodWebsite: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Ellen Jovin, the brilliant mind behind the Grammar Table, engaging in language conversations with strangers across the US since 2018. In this enlightening episode, Ellen delves into some of the most frequently asked grammar questions she's encountered on her journey – from the infamous Oxford comma to the singular 'they'. Ellen’s passion for language is catching, but she’s the first to remind us why we shouldn’t get so hung up on all these rules. “Grammar is actually fun. If you approach it in a way that engages the human spirit, it's exciting, you know, it's sexy.”Do you know your commas from your apostrophes - your pronouns from your prepositions? Whether you have a burning question about English grammar, or you need to get your head around that one rule that always trips you up, it’s probably time to head to the Grammar Table.Check out Ellen’s book Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian.Find out more about our sponsor, the Michel Thomas Method here and sign up to their newsletter. To take advantage of their special 30% discount for listeners of The Language Podcast, just choose your course and enter code MTPOD30 at checkout.Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePodWebsite: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join renowned applied linguist Michael McCarthy to discover the dynamic journey of the English language as it spreads across the globe. Witness how English enriches and adapts, sometimes borrowing words and expressions, and other times merging with local tongues to form pidgins and creoles. Explore the most radical changes to the English language today and join the debate on the future of English.“It adapts itself. That's built into its very nature. It cannot stand still.”In every English-speaking country of the world, the language takes on a life of its own – molded and shaped to fit into its environment. So what makes English so adaptable? Why do so many unique and distinctive varieties exist, and how is it evolving and changing? Where does English end and pidgins and creoles begin?Michael McCarthy is Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham in the UK, and has written more than 50 books about the English language. In this episode he discusses the many ‘Englishes’ of the world, and why the language travels so well. He explores how foreign ideas and ‘loanwords’ have entered and altered the language and where its future is headed in a world of less formality.Check out Michael’s latest book McCarthy's Field Guide to Grammar: Natural English Usage and Style - published by Chambers.Find out more about our sponsor, Teach Yourself here and sign up to their newsletter here. To take advantage of their special 30% discount on language eBooks for listeners of The Language Podcast, just enter code TYPOD30 at checkout. You can then access the title online, or download it to the accompanying Teach Yourself app. Please note: You will not be able to save the files to your computer.Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePodWebsite: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.